The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 13, 1992
Filed:
Jan. 29, 1990
Michael E Dyer, Cleveland, TN (US);
Intera Corporation, Cleveland, TN (US);
Abstract
A method is provided for treating active hydrogen atom-containing polymer fibers or fibrous structures made thereof to permanently improve the antistatic, hygroscopic, dye receptive, soil release, inter-fiber adhesion and bonding, and fabric hand properties of the fibers and structures. The method involves contacting the fibers with an aqueous solution containing at least one unsaturated monomer and having an acid pH and a temperature between about 75.degree. C. and about 100.degree. C. After allowing the solution to uniformly disperse among the fibers, so that the monomer intimately contacts the fiber surfaces, the fiber is affected and has essentially single molecule addition of the monomer pendent to the polymer chain to form a branched polymer, graft polymerization of the monomer on the fiber surface is initiated by a polymerization initiator for the monomer, and the polymerization is continued for a sufficient time to allow substantial graft polymerization of the monomer on the fibers to modify the surface properties of the fibers. The fibers are preferably scoured prior to the treatment process, and after polymerization the fibers are rinsed to remove acid and excess homopolymer prior to dyeing and/or further processing of the fibers. The fibers may be in the form of knitted, woven or nonwoven fabrics, and may include amine-containing and/or hydroxy-containing polymers such as nylon, wool, silk, cotton, cellulosic, acetate and combinations thereof.